Wexford get back on track
Away trip this Wednesday to face Kildare in last eight
WEXFORD 2-15 WICKLOW 2-6
WEXFORD BOOKED a trip to Newbridge to face Kildare as a reward for a comprehensive victory over an inferior Wicklow side in the Leinster Special Under-17 football competition losers’ group play-off in Aughrim on Thursday.
Sporting a far bigger side and panel, the Model county played some clever football and only for the Wicklow crossbar, the gap could have been much wider by the end.
Wexford took the lead in the opening minute through Fiachra Hourihane with a lovely score off his left foot, and backed it up a minute later with a point from the other corner-forward, Todd Hynes.
The tenacity of the Wexford back line was notable from very early on. The intensity they opened the game at was ferocious, allowing Wicklow no chance to clear their lines or find a team-mate as often times at least three Wexford players could be seen around the ball.
In the middle of the field, the partnership of James Lawlor and the inspirational Liam Coleman dominated the airways, winning or breaking six of the opening seven Wicklow kick-outs.
Wing-forward Eoghan Herlihy chipped in with a point, and a crossfield ball from the same player moments later found Coleman who fired off the crossbar and away to safety.
It was almost 15 minutes before Wicklow opened their account through Daniel Ging. The home side were making simple elementary mistakes, carrying the ball into tackles with a stronger opponent, trying to emulate Ciarán McDonald with shots from outside the boot but skewing them 20 yards wide, while handling issues were also to the fore.
A Coleman free restored a three-point lead for the away side before another goal chance for them. A short kick-out was intercepted by Michael Carroll and the ball was worked to Todd Hynes, but unfortunately for the lively corner-forward it was fired wide.
Wexford wouldn’t have to wait long for a green flag though. A poor decision to shoot from a Wicklow player was blocked by Wexford, with a long ball sent to Diarmuid Barry in a one-on-one with the Wicklow defence.
Unfortunately for them, the ball popped up nicely to the St. Martin’s man who released Hynes, and this time he made no mistake with the goal.
The Wicklow response was immediate, as a long diagonal ball into the goal area found Jack Manley who fired home within a minute.
The impressive Páuric Hughes from Ballinastragh Gaels just over the border was proving a real thorn in the Wicklow side in the opening period. The wing-back was involved in a lot of attacks and his roving runs into opposition territory almost yielded a goal on one occasion.
However, he provided an assist to Diarmuid Barry for Wexford’s goal on the stroke of half-time which gave the travelling men an eight-point lead at the break which was well deserved. Full-forward Seán Forde was also proving a handful for the Wicklow defence as he dictated play from the middle third.
Wexford opened the second period in the same vein as the first with three points in as many minutes at the start. One of the points came in an unfortunate way for the home side.
After dispossessing a Wexford attack, the ball was turned back over immediately on the ‘14 for a point from Hynes. Wexford always had an extra couple of seconds on the ball. When coming out of defence, they worked the ball fast through the hands, leaving the opposition trailing.
While attacking, they had willing runners off the shoulder, making some of their scores a joy to watch. Other aspects of the attack just showed that when things are going your way, they keep going in that manner.
A miscontrolled solo by Lawlor found its way back to him somehow with a Wicklow player closing him down, and he fired over a score.
To Wicklow’s credit, they performed much better in the second period. Oisín McGraynor added two points including one lovely score from a free, while Andrew Maher and Tadgh O’Toole impressed, trying to drive colleagues forward.
James Hedderman battled hard but the introduction of Páuric Murray was the spark needed for the home side.
The Coolkenno man was a nuisance from the moment he crossed the white line, winning a free, having the confidence to kick it himself, grabbing two points and firing home a net-buster of a goal towards the end.
Hard work from Ging, Hedderman and a pass from captain O’Toole released the full-forward who fired home a rocket which bounced downwards off the crossbar and behind the line of Joshua Burke’s goal.
Wexford will have taken much confidence from this victory as they travel to face Kildare on Wednesday.
Wexford: Joshua Burke; Liam O’Connor, Tommy Ryan, Niall Murphy; Seán Delaney, Sam Audsley, Páuric Hughes; James Lawlor (0-1), Liam Coleman (0-5); Michael Carroll, Diarmuid Barry (1-1), Eoghan Herlihy (0-2); Fiachra Hourihane (0-3), Seán Forde (0-1), Todd Hynes (1-2). Subs. - David Pettit for Lawlor, Cathal Meenagh for Delaney, Brendan Corcoran for Carroll, Robert Cogley for Hynes, Mick Curran for Murphy.
Wicklow: Joe McDonald; Tadgh O’Toole, Colm Keogh, Kevin Mulhall; Jack Manley (1-0), Mark Reid, Andrew Maher; Oisín McGraynor (0-2), Pierce Lawlor; Adam Heffernan, Daniel Ging (0-1), James Hedderman; Conor Odlum, Ross Ward (0-1), Jack Dunne. Subs. - Cian Lohan for Odlum, Ethan Cotter for Dunne, Páuric Murray (1-2) for Heffernan, Johnny Kennedy for Manley, Mikey Aherne for Keogh.
Referee: Chris Dwyer (Offaly).